Jess Givens joined the University of North Dakota in January of 2025 as the Assistant Coach of Strength and Conditioning.
Prior to UND, Givens worked at Saint Mary’s University in April 2023 as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. At Saint Mary's she oversaw cross country, men's soccer, men's basketball, women's hockey, softball and track & field. She provided programming, training, testing, and provided nutritional advice.
Prior to Saint Mary’s University, Givens was a strength and conditioning intern at the University of Wisconsin-Madision from January through March 2023, where she worked with men's and women's hockey, men's and women's basketball, and women's tennis.
Givens held a role as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, where she programmed and trained for women’s hockey, soccer, and lacrosse teams. Additionally, she contributed to the development of football, men’s hockey, basketball, tennis, and golf athletes.
Earlier in her career, Givens gained experience at Total Athlete Performance as a Strength and Performance Coach, where she developed and implemented individualized and group training programs for youth and collegiate athletes. At the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, she served as an Apprentice Strength and Sports Performance Coach and was the supervisor of the competitive sports.
Givens earned her master's degree in Strength and Conditioning from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls in December 2022 and her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, with a minor in Coaching Science, from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire in 2021.
A certified strength and conditioning specialist through the NSCA, Givens holds additional certifications in Reflexive Performance Reset Level 2, Precision Nutrition Level 1, and Mental Health First Aid. She is also certified in CPR/AED and first aid.
